mark dacascos dances to “kung fu fighting”
By Guest Contributor Angry Asian Man, originally published at Angry Asian Man
This is a video clip of Mark Dacascos and his partner dancing the cha cha cha this week on Dancing With The Stars. Longtime readers know that I can’t stand the song “Kung Fu Fighting” — and I loathe any movie trailer, scene or commercial that features the song. I wish it would just go away.
I won’t say much about this particular routine’s use of the song and the ridiculous martial arts theme they’ve got going on… except that it made me really really sad. Granted, it’s Dancing With The Stars — the cheese factor is already dialed up to eleven. But really? Did it have to be “Kung Fu Fighting”? (Thanks, Corinne.)
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Shazza wrote:
I happen to be a big fan of Mark Dacascos , thanks to his movies and the TV show of The Crow. It kinda hurts me that they just acknowledge him as being The Big Boss on Iron Chef now but I guess whatever gets him a check. I was already cringing when I saw his outfit but then when I heard the opening bars of ‘Kung Fu Fighting’-I was NO! It just seemed SO cheesy and kinda racist. I’m with the old judge, I hope every dance routine they have isn’t going to be martial arts influenced.
Posted 24 Sep 2009 at 12:11 pm ¶
Sara wrote:
My understanding of the choice was that it was meant to represent his claim to fame within the martial arts field. They do this with most of their contestants, say giving rodeo champion Ty Murray a lasso for one of his dances. It’s super cheesy, but that’s what they do. That song is terrible, though.
Posted 24 Sep 2009 at 12:56 pm ¶
DigitalCoyote wrote:
I wish I hadn’t watched that clip. It’s overall cringe-factor makes me feel dirty. If I knew where my copy of “Only the Strong” was, I could absolve myself.
Somewhere, some producer is thinking this kitsch combined the best of both worlds. is plotting to do it again, and will probably be rewarded for coming up with this garbage.
Posted 24 Sep 2009 at 1:24 pm ¶
SK8TN wrote:
On the upside, his later number should be better. Look at the body line, extension and hip action. He fits in very well with dance. He just needs appropriate material.
Posted 24 Sep 2009 at 1:36 pm ¶
aimerrouge wrote:
Did it have to be “Kung Fu Fighting”? – maybe not the best choice. But, the celebrities do have a say so in the choreography, song selection, and costume. If Mark Dacascos found it offensive, he could have said so and has the authority to have it changed.
Does anyone watch the show (as opposed to clips)?
Posted 24 Sep 2009 at 1:52 pm ¶
atlasien wrote:
I LOVE Mark Dacascos. But I’m not going to press the “play” button on that Youtube clip. It’s just too depressing. He’s logged enough hours in the entertainment trenches… he deserves better than this.
Posted 24 Sep 2009 at 2:28 pm ¶
Phil Deeze wrote:
I like Mark’s movies as well, but this was a TERRIBLE choice of songs.
I was almost expecting Scatman Crothers to come back from the dead singin’ the Hong Kong Phooey song. Now THAT was a racist cartoon right there. So glad I have the common sense not to ask an Asian person why he’s not a janitor by day and a crime fighter by night that changes clothes by jumping in a file cabinet and then popping out the bottom in karate get-up and Lone Ranger mask a la The Pied Piper of R&B.
Posted 24 Sep 2009 at 4:17 pm ¶
Margari Aziza wrote:
Maybe his next act should be something from the RZA, I’m not sure what dance would work with one of his tracks. Maybe the quick step to one of the faster tracks?
Posted 24 Sep 2009 at 6:15 pm ¶
G.K. wrote:
Hey, I LOVE that song! The only problem with it is it’s been so overused to the max that I’m not surprised anybody’s sick of it,even though it’s a good fun song. And it was cool to see Mark D. get his dance on, since he’s obviously still in such great shape!
Posted 24 Sep 2009 at 8:40 pm ¶
alumiere wrote:
i’m not sure this one’s offensive to me – yeah, the song, costumes, and bits of the dance were cheesey
but mark was a champion in kung fu and karate long before he began work as an actor which made this read as more of an homage to his history
Posted 24 Sep 2009 at 11:17 pm ¶
ashlynn wrote:
As SOON as I saw him, I knew he would end up on Racialicious. lol
All that I can say is, why? It just felt so…I mean why put yourself out there like that- as just another Asian dude? He has good dance skills, and he really didn’t have to resort to stereotyping himself to win favor. That’s the cool thing about DWTS, I guess- you don’t have to be well known to win, you can let your charm and personality shine.
Posted 25 Sep 2009 at 12:33 am ¶
Invasian wrote:
G.K.
Do you even realize why some people hate this song? Not because it’s been overused (which it has), but because it’s idiotic and obnoxious; in the same vein as “Turning Japanese.”
Posted 25 Sep 2009 at 1:49 am ¶
Shauna wrote:
On the plus side daaaamn he looks super fine dancing, breaking stereotypes that asian men aren’t attractive. makes me want to watch dancing with the stars to see him dance to non-cliched music, or watch this clip again with the sound off
Posted 25 Sep 2009 at 3:49 am ¶
cranky gen-x'er wrote:
Wow, “Hong Kong Phooey.” Thanks, I think, for the way back machine, Phil Deeze. Must go brush my gray matter with Clorox right now, especially considering how Scatman retains a special place in my heart as the Magic Negro grandfather I always wanted. Damn cartoons and their racist indoctrination.
Posted 25 Sep 2009 at 8:27 am ¶
Lilith wrote:
I get why the song is offensive, but it makes sense to me that they would give him a martial arts “inspired” number because that was his claim to fame. Maybe a future number will be to Brazilian music to pay homage to “Only the Strong”, heh.
Posted 29 Sep 2009 at 12:15 pm ¶
Phil wrote:
I hated Kung Fu Fighting when it came out. But now that I’m older, I kind of like the tune, and I bought one of those toy hamsters at the store who twirls nunchucks while sing Kung Fu Fighting….so it’s become a piece of humorous cheesiness in my house.
Posted 28 Oct 2009 at 3:37 am ¶